Cloud or Data Center? The Best Atlassian Deployment for Healthcare

For healthcare organizations using Atlassian products like Jira or Confluence, navigating the shift to a cloud-first strategy is more important than ever. With Atlassian discontinuing Server support in 2024, organizations must decide whether to migrate to Atlassian Cloud, adopt Data Center, or implement a hybrid approach.

For highly regulated industries like healthcare, compliance, security, and data control are top priorities. The critical question is: Does Atlassian Cloud meet HIPAA requirements, or is Data Center the better choice?

This guide explores your options, addresses HIPAA compliance concerns, and provides expert insights into making the best decision for your organization.

Atlassian Cloud vs. Data Center: What Healthcare Organizations Need to Know

Atlassian Data Center: A Behind-the-Firewall Option

For healthcare organizations needing full control over their infrastructure, Atlassian’s Data Center products offer a self-hosted, behind-the-firewall solution. This is particularly important for organizations that must store PHI/PII in Jira or Confluence but cannot meet compliance requirements in a cloud environment.

Key Advantages of Data Center:

• Increased Security & Compliance – Full control over hosting, access, and compliance settings.
• Scalability & High Availability – Load balancing and disaster recovery support.
• Customization & Integration Flexibility – Ability to customize workflows and integrate with on-premises systems and security tools for enhanced compliance.

Atlassian Cloud’s Compliance and Security Features

Atlassian has made significant investments in security, compliance, and scalability for its Cloud offerings. Jira Software, Jira Service Management, and Confluence on the Enterprise plan are HIPAA-compliant, and Atlassian is prepared to sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) for them.

However, Jira Work Management is not HIPAA-compliant, and Atlassian has no plans to certify it. If your organization is not on the Enterprise plan, other considerations, such as Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools and controlled third-party plugin usage, become essential.

Key Considerations for Cloud Deployments:

• HIPAA Compliance – Available on Enterprise plans with a signed BAA.
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Tools – Critical for enforcing PHI/PII storage policies.
• Third-Party Plugins – Vendors may or may not be HIPAA-compliant; review all Marketplace apps carefully.
• Process & Policy for Reporting and Remediation – A structured approach is needed to flag, review, and remove PHI. If your organization needs assistance evaluating whether Atlassian Cloud is the right fit, Oxalis can help assess your compliance needs and implementation strategy.

Considerations for Data Center:

• Higher Hosting & Maintenance Costs – Requires dedicated IT resources and infrastructure investment.
• User Minimums – Higher licensing costs with a 500-user minimum for Jira Software.

For organizations prioritizing compliance, security, and control, Data Center remains a viable alternative to Cloud, particularly for those not yet ready to fully migrate.

A Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds?

For organizations looking to balance security and efficiency, a hybrid cloud approach may offer the best of both worlds. This strategy allows teams to use Atlassian Cloud for non-sensitive operations while keeping PHI/PII in a secure Data Center environment.

Common Hybrid Cloud Scenarios:

1. Customer-Facing Services on Cloud, Internal Systems on Data Center
   • Example: A healthcare IT company uses Jira Service Management on Data Center for handling PHI in customer support requests, while Jira Software and Confluence remain in the Cloud for agile development and knowledge management.
2. Sensitive Workflows in Data Center, General Operations in Cloud
   • Example: A multi-state healthcare provider operates Quality Management in Jira Cloud, but runs compliance-sensitive projects in Jira Data Center to meet regulatory requirements.

Making the Right Decision for Your Healthcare Organization

Choosing between Atlassian Cloud, Data Center, or a hybrid approach depends on your security needs, compliance requirements, and IT infrastructure.

• If you need a fully managed solution with built-in compliance, Atlassian Cloud (Enterprise Plan) is a strong option.
• If you require full control over data storage, security, and compliance policies, Atlassian Data Center is the better fit.
• If you want flexibility, a hybrid approach offers tailored security and scalability.

Atlassian’s Compliance Roadmap

The chart below details current and future Cloud compliance standards according to the Atlassian Cloud compliance roadmap.

Oxalis’ Proven Methodology: Your Atlassian Cloud Migration, Simplified

As your trusted Atlassian Cloud Migration advisors, we’ve distilled our extensive experience into a step-by-step eBook. Whether you’re transitioning from Server or Data Center, this guide covers every aspect of your journey.

How Oxalis Can Help

At Oxalis, we specialize in helping healthcare organizations navigate Atlassian deployments while ensuring compliance with HIPAA and other regulatory frameworks. Our team provides:

• Compliance Assessments – Evaluating Cloud vs. Data Center fit for your organization.
• Architecture & Deployment Strategy – Implementing secure, scalable solutions.
• Hybrid Cloud Solutions – Designing an optimal mix of Cloud and Data Center products.
• Security & Compliance Best Practices – Ensuring ongoing HIPAA compliance and data protection.

Need expert guidance on your Atlassian deployment? Contact Oxalis today to explore the best path forward for your healthcare organization.

Recommended Reading

• Is Jira HIPAA Compliant? What Healthcare Organizations Need to Know
• Sana Benefits: Delivering Better Healthcare with Atlassian Cloud